Tipperary community puts its money where its heart is for lifesaving defibrillators

With one more night to go before the official fundraising night for Nenagh’s Defibs for Life, it can be revealed that the group has already raised enough to purchase two lifesaving defibrillators.

The campaign was only launched two weeks ago in the Abbey Court Hotel.

Committee member Vinny Savage, who is organising his own fundraising disco in the Hibernian Inn, Nenagh, this Saturday night, posted to the group’s Facebook page this week: “It’s safe to say that we have enough raised to purchase two defibrillators for Defibs for Life. Nenagh people let’s make it three defibrillators. If one of these machines even saves one life it will be worth the effort.”

At the launch two weeks ago, Tom Boland of Defibs for Life said the good attendance was an indicator of the need to add more potentially lifesaving defibrillators - or defibs - with public access in Nenagh.

He said he and the members of his group had been “amazed” at the reaction they had already received, and praised the local community for stepping up in support of the campaign.

Mr Boland outlined how Defibs for Life was set up by a group of friends and family members after someone close to them was diagnosed with a heart condition.

With the help of local members of the Order of Malta and the Irish Red Cross, the Defibs for Life team were trained in CPR and defibrillator use.

Defibs For Life has been set up with three main objectives: To install at least six more public access defibrillators in the town; to increase public awareness of the location of the devices; and to provide a greater level of training in CPR and defibrillator use.

Aiden Lonergan, National Director, Community Support at the Irish Red Cross, told the attendance that any one of them could use a defibrillator.

He spoke of the “chain of survival” and said the chances of surviving a cardiac arrest in Nenagh would be greatly increased if there were strong links in the chain. He made the point that other towns around Ireland were running similar community campaigns, and he acknowledged the presence of members of Roscrea Cardiac First Responders at the launch.

The Cathaoirleach of Nenagh Municipal District Cllr Hughie McGrath praised the local members of the Order of Malta and the Red Cross for the service they had provided to the community over the years.

Having spoken to the local council executive, Cllr McGrath said the new group could be assured of assistance with the rollout of more defibrillators in Nenagh.

Cllr Séamie Morris acknowledged the number of business people willing to help, and described the amount of goodwill in general towards Defibs for Life as “incredible”.

Also present at the launch were pupils of rang a sé, Gaelscoil Aonach, who presented the findings of a survey they had carried out in relation to knowledge of defibs and CPR in the town.

John Sherlock of the Order of Malta, spoke of installing two devices, with support from Nenagh Lions Club, one outside the Bank of Ireland and one at Mulrooney’s service station on the Borrisokane Road. In subsequent years, further public access defibs were installed outside Anna Kelly's pharmacy beside Lidl, at Costello's service station on Ciamaltha Road, and at Nenagh Éire Óg's complex on Gortlandroe.

Mr Sherlock said the defib outside the Bank of Ireland “has saved a number of lives.”

Mr Boland thanked everyone that has donated to Defibs for Life so far.

For further details, email Defibsforlife@gmail.com